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IFOAM EU Group Press Release:
7th EAP: Policy makers must bring green economy to the mainstream
Brussels, 30 November 2012 - IFOAM EU (1) welcomes the Commission’s proposal for a new 7th EU Environmental Action Program called “Living well, within the limits of our planet” (2). IFOAM EU calls on policy makers to use the paper as a guideline to make the EU budget greener and cleaner in the current negotiations on the EU financial framework MFF 2014-2020.
Read the full press release here.
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IFOAM EU Group Press Release:
The Future of Organic Food Processing: Sustainability - Quality - Integrity
Frankfurt, 27 November 2012 - Experts from the organic food processing and trade industry – processors, traders, researchers and trade associations – gathered to discuss the way forward at the 2nd IFOAM EU Group conference on organic food processing and environmental performance, co-organised by AOEL and FIBL. The conference participants, more than 80 people from about 15 countries, emphasised the need for organic operators to take full responsibility for sustainability, integrity and quality. Nevertheless there is a need for the further development of organic processing rules.
Read the full press release here.
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IFOAM EU Group Press Release:
EU water blueprint must lead to a "blue" and sustainable CAP
Nicosia, 26 November 2012 - IFOAM EU welcomes the ‘Blueprint to Safeguard Europe’s Waters’ launched and discussed at the EU Water Blueprint presidency conference in Cyprus today. However, to overcome the pressure on water resources, Member States and EU institutions must now follow up with concrete, actionable policies.
Read the full press release here.
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IFOAM EU Group Press Release:
Future EU promotional policy must focus on sustainability
Brussels, 21 November 2012 - IFOAM EU welcomes the European Parliament’s recognition of the increasing consumer demand for organic products and the need to stimulate the development of organic production by enhanced promotion, as expressed in its resolution on Promotion measures for agricultural products. IFOAM EU demands that the new promotional policy contribute to the shift towards agricultural practices which use natural resources sustainably and contribute to employment in rural areas. Therefore, a clear focus should be put on the promotion of the new organic EU logo and organic production.
Read the full press release here.
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No EU budget cuts at the expense of farming sustainability
Brussels, 15 November 2012 - The IFOAM EU Group rejects the compromise proposal on the EU budget published yesterday by Council President Hermann van Rompuy which seeks to weaken the greening component under CAP direct payments as well as cut the rural development budget by 9.3%. Organic farmers who are meeting these days in Brussels also underline that a strong Rural Development fund plays a critical role in addressing key EU socioeconomic and environmental priorities and must not be the victim of severe budget cuts.
Read the full press release here.
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November IFOAM EU Newsletter Now Available
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No more blank cheques for agriculture
Open letter from ARC2020, BirdLife Europe, the European Environmental Bureau, Friends of the Earth Europe, IFOAM EU Group and WWF on EurActive
From the start, negotiations on the future of the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) were supposed to be about delivering more for Europe’s environment, rural communities and long-term food security. Despite this welcome and ambitious intent, it now appears that the current destructive business-as-usual agenda will persist. In the hothouse of negotiations, the original drive for reform is being dangerously weakened. Read more...
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Conference on climate change, water scarcity and eco-tourism
On 26 September 2012, an IFOAM EU conference on water scarcity was held in Cyprus and was attended by around 90 people. The topics were higher efficiency in the use of resources, measures to save water and retain rainwater, our water footprint and the future EU common agricultural policy. By chance, the TV chef Tonia Buxton, who appears on Sky TV and is well known in Britain and Cyprus, dropped in during lunch. In a brief, impromptu speech, she emphasised the point that, when asked in her cookery shows what her secret is, she always tells people that the main thing is to use organic ingredients. Naturally, the conference attendees responded with enthusiastic applause. Read more...
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IFOAM EU Group Press Release:
IFOAM EU highlighted role of organic farming in EU Informal Rural Development Directors' meeting
Limassol, Cyprus, Sept. 27 2012 - An IFOAM EU delegation was invited today to speak at the informal meeting of rural development directors in Limassol to present the results of the "Organic Days" - the high level expert conference which took place from 24- 26 September in Larnaca, Cyprus. Addressing the delegations of Rural Development Directors from the 27 Member States and the European Commission, Christopher Stopes, President of the IFOAM EU Group, presented the key conclusions from the Organic Days.
Read the full Press Release here.
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IFOAM EU Group Press Release:
Hundreds join Good Food March in Brussels for radical farming reform
Brussels, Sept. 19 2012 - Hundreds of people gathered today in Brussels to call for radical changes to food and farming policy in Europe. Farmers, citizens, and young people from more than 20 European countries took part in the final day of the Good Food March and brought their demands for the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) directly to those responsible for its reform.
Among other things, the Good Food March is calling for fairer and greener farming, an end to food speculation, support for sustainable family farms – especially organic farming, fair prices for farmers, a grassroots based rural development policy, and increased cultivation of local protein crops – rather than importing soy to feed Europe's farm animals.
Read the full Press Release here.
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IFOAM EU Group Press Release:
Ministers must push real CAP reform to protect EU water and soil resources
Brussels, Sept. 10 2012 - Informal farm minister meeting must recognise potential of organic farming systems to deliver sustainability benefits under CAP
On the occasion of today’s Informal Council of EU Farm Ministers, where the management of the EU’s land, soil and waters resources are discussed, the IFOAM EU Group reminds the Ministers that the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) budget must be used to effectively ensure the shift towards a sustainable food system, especially as financial means are under pressure as well as natural resources.
Read the full Press Release here.
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News Archive 2009_____________________________
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The IFOAM EU Group acknowledges the financial support of the European Comission, DG Environment throughout the year 2012. The sole responsibility lies with the IFOAM EU Group, and the Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information provided by IFOAM EU Group. |
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Department for Agriculture and Fishery Unit for Sustainable Agriculture (Departement Landbouw en Visserij Afdeling Duurzame Landbouwontwikkeling). | |
IFOAM EU Short film:
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